The Tigers finished strong in the regular season, picking up key wins last week to finish 10-5-1 in District 13-5A play, earning the second seed and a first-round playoff date with A&M Consolidated.

It's their first appearance in the postseason in five years.

"Everybody's really excited," coach Darrell Hamlett said. "The guys have really worked hard this year, and it finally paid off.

"Our motto this year was to break on through, having coming up short the last few years, and this year all the extra effort they put in over the summer and in the offseason really paid off because they broke through. Now we have a good chance of having some fun in the second season."

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Klein Collins file

Mascot: Tigers

Coach: Darrell Hamlett, fourth season

Next up: The Tigers play A&M Consolidated in the Class 5A bi-district playoffs.

Hamlett said they improved across the field, but the key was their goal differential in district, which finally moved back into the black. The Tigers tallied 36 goals while surrendering just one per match.

"Defensively, we've really played solid this year," Hamlett said. "We've had six or seven shutouts on the year, so we're solid back there, and then offensively we've been scoring pretty consistently, which helps."

Collins secured the second seed with wins over Klein (3-1) and Kingwood (3-0) down the stretch. It won on the Bearkats' field.

"Those two games gave us the momentum to push up to second place, and both of those were huge victories for us," Hamlett said. "To beat two programs of that caliber in back-to-back games helped with our confidence, and how they're playing. It confirmed to the boys how good they could be."

Senior Jonathan Muñoz and junior Aaron Santellan are living up to their preseason billing as potential saviors. They combined for 22 goals two years ago then both skipped soccer last season.

Back in the fold, they combined for 21 goals this year, leading Collins to an 11-7-1 overall mark.

"They've been big for us," Hamlett said.

The midfield, with sophomore Johan Mata and senior Albert Gonzalez controlling the center, jelled as the year went on, and always worked well with the attack, and the defense is in sync, with starters sophomore Israel Tristan, seniors Gustavo Alonzo and Hector Chavez, and junior J.D. Dondeli.

"The four of them have been playing stellar defense down the stretch, and Raul Camarena, in goal, has come up with some really stellar saves, particularly the last two games last week," Hamlett said.

"He had a big saves to help preserve a couple shutouts against (Klein) Oak and Westfield."

Dondeli, who Hamlett hoped would step up this year, has started every game, helping solidify the back line.

"He's a tremendous athlete, and he's really, really improved as the season got on and he got more comfortable with his role on the defense," Hamlett said.

Now the Tigers have to get comfortable with the playoffs – and fast.

They're back in the postseason, but no one the team was in high school the last time they were there.

"They're not satisfied to be there," Hamlett said.

"They want to keep working to keep it going, but they're definitely very excited to be where they're at. We're proud of all we've accomplished, but we know there's still more that we want to do."

The key is maintaining the focus they played with down the stretch. A&M Consolidated is a third-seeded team, but it made the regional quarters last year, falling to state finalist Kingwood in a shootout.

Collins and Consolidated haven't met since 2005, a 3-1 Consolidated win in a tourney.

"It'll be a new team to us to try to face, and we know they're coming out of a tough district," Hamlett said.